Democratic gubernatorial candidate Dr. Amy Acton opposes ending qualified immunity for law enforcement and says controversial Flock cameras have helped solve many crimes.
Acton tackled several questions about law enforcement after announcing her endorsement from the Ohio Patrolmen’s Benevolent Association, which is also backing Democrat Sherrod Brown for U.S. Senate
. The police union split with the Fraternal Order of Police of Ohio, which endorsed Acton's Republican opponent, entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy.If elected, Acton said she'd do a comprehensive review of public safety and emergency response, including AI-powered surveillance technology like Flock cameras. Supporters of the technology say it helps police solve crimes and keep Ohioans safe.
But critics worry about privacy and whether local agencies are using Flock to help in immigration enforcement.
"We're working very closely with our law enforcement officers to use technology in all the right ways to protect Ohioans," Acton said during a campaign event at Scotty's Cafe near Bexley. "I absolutely know that we have had, as Gov. DeWine has said, many crimes solved due to the use of technology."
Acton also weighed in on a ballot campaign to end qualified immunity for law enforcement, which would make it easier to sue police.
"Police officers would not want to go out or take the job in the first place if they didn't have some protection against their own personal assets," Ohio Patrolmen’s Benevolent Association Chief Legal Counsel Daniel Leffler said. "We would be opposed to any type of changes to qualified immunity, and Dr. Acton has indicated that she would support us on that."
George Sakellakis, OPBA's director of organization, said Acton would back the union's efforts to increase municipal employers' contributions to police and fire pensions − an issue that has stalled in the GOP-controlled Legislature, where Ramaswamy's running mate leads one chamber. "These contribution rates have not been changed since the Reagan years," Sakellakis said.
Acton says local police should work with federal authorities
Acton also responded toa Ramaswamy ad that accuses Acton of inspiring violence against police officers because of comments she made at The City Club of Cleveland.
During Acton's June 2025 remarks, she said there were problems with U.S. immigration policy, and criminals should be arrested, but she took issue with masked immigration officers.
"There are people coming out there, wearing masks with all the gear on. We don't even know who they are. They're just showing up. Does this not feel like the Ku Klux Klan to anyone? That's what we're seeing. That is not OK, guys," Acton said to The City Club.
Asked about the speech a year later, Acton said: "First of all, I absolutely adore first responders."
"I was talking about Minneapolis in a moment where, you know, I was saying that we need to hold anyone who comes to our state to the same standards of professionalism that we expect of our public safety officers, and I will always fight for that," Acton said. "People of Ohio deserve to feel safe, and they deserve the professionalism and the training."
Acton also said she wouldn't join other Democratic governors directing local police not to assist federal immigration enforcement.
"We always work with the federal law enforcement, and we will do so, whatever it takes to keep Ohioans safe," Acton said.
State government reporter Jessie Balmert can be reached at jbalmert@usatodayco.com or @jbalmert on X.
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This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Amy Acton opposes ending qualified immunity for police
